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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsScroll of Resurrection revamp active, includes free level 80 character
by Alex Ziebart 
Mar 6th 2012 at 3:30PM
This is just one more way that Blizzard is aggressively attempting to reverse the subscriber bleed that only just recently came to a halt. Lowering the barrier to reentry for returning players will go a long way toward getting those people to check back in, especially if it means those players will get to see the other faction for the very first time. It could very well mean a brand new gaming experience for some of those returning players.
The new Scroll of Resurrection would also explain the level 80 armor sets that were datamined on the patch 4.3 PTR. Boosting a character from level 12 to level 80 wouldn't be all that useful if that character were still using level 12 gear. Receiving a full set of level 80 gear in the mail after your boost would solve that little problem.
We assume you'll also get the spectral mounts included in the aforementioned teasers, possibly as a perk for the one doing the recruiting rather than for the recruited. Images of both of the spectral mounts are below if you're interested in that sort of thing.
Note: The service was live when we began writing this news post, but the service was taken down for maintenance while we were in the process of writing it. We assume it will be active again later this afternoon.
Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 9)
threesixteen Mar 6th 2012 4:42PM
um, "scumbag"? that's a little harsh don't you think?
(cutaia) Mar 6th 2012 4:43PM
"Scumbag Sarah Bee"
I'm not sure her post really holds a lot of weight for me, either, because marketing and development are two separate departments, so this promotion doesn't mean they're not also working on "issues" she may have...
...but that seemed unnecessary.
Aftermathmatical Mar 6th 2012 4:49PM
oops replied to wrong comic.. here we go
its an internet meme. originated with scumbag steve, its series of comics and memes. google it, its funny. (but yes probably sounds bad if you havent seen it, but funny if you have)
(cutaia) Mar 6th 2012 4:52PM
Has seen Scumbag Steve.
Stands by his comment.
Meneiz Mar 6th 2012 4:55PM
The "Scumbag" part is just a reference to internet memes. Not a real offense, i think...
Mir Mar 6th 2012 5:07PM
You guys are missing the meme reference. Imagine a pic Sara Bee walking in a door with a crappy sideways brown hat and the captions written above and below her.
DragonFireKai Mar 6th 2012 8:40PM
Ok, lesson one on the proper invocation of a meme: If the meme is based on a visual prompt, in this case, the picture of Scumbag Steve, do not attempt to use it in a text based medium.
Addendum: Unless you've got awesome Ascii skills.
Mr. Crow Mar 6th 2012 3:48PM
It's a clever move to recapture folks who left for Old Republic but were disappointed with it, and potentially a strong way to boost profits going from Q1 into Q2.
And saying "hey, all you need to do is just level through the Cata zones and you're back in the totally accessible endgame" IS a pretty compelling argument to people who've been gone for awhile and are worried about all the time it takes to level.
This is a positive move on all sides, really.
Callace Mar 6th 2012 3:50PM
These Perks might be TOO irresistible. I can honestly foresee an incentive for some people to take an extended break before Mists just for the free level 80 monk.
I'm taking it into consideration.
pinteresque Mar 6th 2012 3:56PM
If the deal includes a copy of Cataclysm, I'm pretty sure a free lvl80 monk isn't in the cards.
Callace Mar 6th 2012 4:10PM
Is that to say the offer will be scrapped by Mists? You don't think they will reconfigure it when the time comes?
Imnick Mar 6th 2012 4:21PM
To be elligible for a free level 80 monk you'd have to buy and activate Mists first, THEN go inactive for a month, by which time you could have just levelled one
Ullaana Mar 6th 2012 4:28PM
I thought to be eligible to receive a SoR your account had to be inactive for 90 days?
jordan Mar 6th 2012 4:32PM
Or maybe they won't allow it for monks at the beginning of MOP in a similar fashion to the worgen/goblin race change not being available at the start of cata.
exogenesis. Mar 6th 2012 3:50PM
This certainly gives people the incentive to come back to the game, but on the other hand, if you haven't been playing since, say, middle of Wrath, and your friend invites you back, and you get a level 80 ... Well, I don't envy someone who hasn't seen any of the changes in Cataclysm jumping right into the deep end trying to play a level 80.
I guess that's why it's optional!
No, if only I had a former player friend. All my friends that don't already play are still yet to be pulled in, and stubbornly evading my fish hook.
Riarenil Mar 6th 2012 4:50PM
but isnt that what we all did when cata came out and we leveled from 80-85?
Snuzzle Mar 6th 2012 5:39PM
No, it's not. Let's say you quit in TBC. You're level 70. Suddenly, you're level 80 with 10 levels' of new spells, not to mention all the switchups that we got in Cata so the spells you have may not even be the ones you're used to. You're dumped smack into Hyjal... and remember how brutal those level 80 zones were to people who knew their class from 1-80, no skips.
Sure, the idea is you'll have your friend to help you along but... I don't know. This whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I was okay with free levels for RAF since the person playing had to do a lot of legitimate levelling to earn those "free" levels. This feels more like a slippery slope to purchasing a level 80 character from Blizz and I'm not sure I like the view.
exogenesis. Mar 6th 2012 5:40PM
That's a good point actually.
/facepalm
Al Mar 6th 2012 7:09PM
But if someone was at the level of disatisfaction that they quit in BC and haven't come back by now.. I just doubt anything at this point would convince them.
threesixteen Mar 6th 2012 3:52PM
am i the only one that gets infuriated by these types of bribes? i mean, come on. what about the loyal subscriber that never dropped? can't i get my lvl 12 an auto-boost to 80?
i think this is just begging for hacks.